Finnish eggs
The very first time I went to the grocery store in Finland, my friend Maarit was with me and took the time to explain where (and what) everything was. When we got to the eggs, she explained that some of the eggs were from chickens who had big cages, or activities in their cages, or were free from cages, etc. It was the single most charming thing I'd learned about Finland up to that point (it's probably still high on the list, actually). Chickens with activities in their cages! I have thought about her explanation every time I've bought eggs in the year since and it always makes me smile.
Well today, the newspaper had a quick bit about the different kinds of eggs available here. It was a treat to read the details of the chickens' living conditions. Well, a treat to read about the nice living conditions. Here you go (source):
"The Tampere-based daily Aamulehti adds some useful information to a news item that ruffled feathers in Finland’s agricultural community this week: Grocery chain Lidl’s decision to stop carrying eggs originating from hen houses utilizing cages.
"Egg production changed fundamentally in 2012, when conventional battery cages were banned throughout the European Union, to give the birds an existence that allows more normal behaviour for their species. The EU ban was proposed when international scientists independently observed signs of extreme abnormal behaviour (including cannibalism) in battery-caged hens.
"The EU still allows what it calls enriched or 'furnished' cages to be used. They must provide each hen with at least 750 square centimetres of space, and contain litter, perches and claw-shortening devices.
"The paper says these new enriched battery cages remain the most-popular egg production method in Finland. The enriched cages were banned in Germany in 2012. In Finland, the hens live in cages in groups of several dozen and their food and water distribution is automated. The paper reports that eggs from these so-called 'group egg farms' are selling for 2.22 euros per kilo at Tampere’s Sokos shop.
"The second option is a free-range hen house, a farming method that is gaining ground in Finland. Barn-type chicken coops now produce about 31 percent of the eggs sold in Finland, according to Statistics Finland. The hens are situated on several floors, with food, water and perches on different levels, to encourage the birds to move. The paper says a typical barn-type hen house unit can hold 16,000 hens. Going price for free range eggs in Tampere: 2.67 euros per kilo.
"A third option is free range hens that are allowed outside. There are only eight major hen houses like this in Finland, the paper says. In order to qualify as an outdoor hen house, the birds can only be inside 12 weeks a year. The paper says eggs from these hen houses are selling for 4.10 euros a kilo in Tampere.
"And lastly, organic eggs. Hens that lay organic eggs have the most room to move around and are fed organic litter. As a rule, the hens are allowed outside from June until October. Barns that house hens that lay organic eggs must have windows. These eggs cost 5.14 euros per kilo."
Coming from the UAE, where we had the choice of brown eggs or white eggs, this is quite the complication!
